Recent advances in the search for new anti-coccidial drugs

Coombs, G. and Muller, S. (2002) Recent advances in the search for new anti-coccidial drugs. International Journal for Parasitology, 32(5), pp. 497-508. (doi: 10.1016/S0020-7519(01)00354-X)

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Abstract

Coccidia provide a rich hunting ground for drug-designers, as there are significant biochemical differences between the parasites and their hosts. Recent years have brought the discovery of the plastid and its possible metabolic machinery, characterisation of acidocalcisomes, reports on the apparent absence from some coccidia of a typical mitochondrion, and the discovery of the mannitol cycle and shikimate pathway in the parasites. Moreover, modern technologies such as genomics and proteomics are bringing new insights into the biochemistry of coccidia and highlighting possible drug targets in abundance. A major issue for would-be drug discoverers is to decide upon the targets to prioritise. This review provides an update on recent findings on how coccidia differ biochemically from vertebrates. It includes discoveries within coccidian parasites themselves but also uses findings in Plasmodium to provide an overview of biochemical features that may be characteristics of many apicomplexan parasites and so potential targets for broad-spectrum drugs.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Muller, Professor Sylke and Coombs, Professor Graham
Authors: Coombs, G., and Muller, S.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences
College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
Journal Name:International Journal for Parasitology
Publisher:Elsevier
ISSN:0020-7519
ISSN (Online):1879-0135
Published Online:04 April 2002

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